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Senate Resolution 329
By: Senators Gooch of the 51st, Hatchett of the 50th, Burns of the 23rd, Walker III of the
20th, Kennedy of the 18th and others
A RESOLUTION
Recognizing and commending the Georgia Forestry Commission for serving the State of
1
Georgia as an emergency response agency; the Worth County Unit on being named the 20242
Unit of the Year for Service; the Fannin/Towns/Union Unit on being named the 2024 Unit3
of the Year for Community Engagement; Clark Rountree for being named 2024 Wildland4
Firefighter of the Year; and Kevin Lee for being named 2024 Forester of the Year; and for5
other purposes.6
WHEREAS, the Georgia Forestry Commission has worked diligently toward its mission "to7
provide leadership, service, and education to protect and conserve Georgia's forest resources"8
and its vision of "healthy and abundant forests that support a robust industry while providing9
social, environmental, and financial benefits to all of Georgia" since 1921; and10
WHEREAS, the Georgia Forestry Commission has protected Georgia's forests and citizens11
from an average of 3,000 wildfires burning 18,500 acres per year and has responded to12
historic wildfire events, including catastrophic fires in 2007, 2011, 2016, and 2017; and13
WHEREAS, the Georgia Forestry Commission assists public and private landowners in the14
established practice of prescribed burning to reduce hazardous fuels, protect communities15
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from extreme wildfires, minimize the spread of insects and diseases, and improve habitats
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for threatened and endangered species; and17
WHEREAS, employees of the Georgia Forestry Commission are trained to meet national18
standards as Firefighter Type 1 and Firefighter Type 2 or are POST-certified law19
enforcement officers, undergoing specific and rigorous training and assignments to maintain20
qualifications to respond to wildfires and all-hazards incidents; and21
WHEREAS, the Worth County Unit was selected as the Georgia Forestry Commission's22
2024 Unit of the Year for Service due to its outstanding accomplishments in serving23
landowners through firebreak plowing, prescribed burn assists, and other services; and24
WHEREAS, the Fannin/Towns/Union Unit was selected as the Georgia Forestry25
Commission's 2024 Unit of the Year for Community Engagement due to its exemplary26
outreach efforts, including Smokey Bear programs, educational programs, and other27
community initiatives; and28
WHEREAS, Clark Rountree was selected as the Georgia Forestry Commission's 202429
Wildland Firefighter of the Year in recognition of his outstanding accomplishments in all30
areas of wildfire mitigation and suppression; and31
WHEREAS, Kevin Lee was selected as the Georgia Forestry Commission's 2024 Forester32
of the Year in recognition of his outstanding accomplishments in all areas of forest33
management; and34
WHEREAS, employees of the Georgia Forestry Commission serve the citizens of the State35
of Georgia with dedication, heart, and determination, ensuring the safeguarding of36
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communities as well as the protection and conservation of our forest resources for the next
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generation.38
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body39
recognize the Georgia Forestry Commission as an emergency response agency.40
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the members of this body commend the Worth County41
Unit, the Fannin/Towns/Union Unit, Clark Rountree, and Kevin Lee for their outstanding42
achievements and recognition as the 2024 Unit of the Year for Service, Unit of the Year for43
Community Engagement, Wildland Firefighter of the Year, and Forester of the Year.44
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed45
to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to State Forester John46
Sabo.47
S. R. 329
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